Couch-bed.



No. 65l,|24. Patented lune'5, I900. J. STIENEN.

COUCH BED.

(Applicatiim filed Feb. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheeis-Sheet I.

WITNESSES. INVENTOH Q AIT QYS No. 65l,l24. Patented June 5, I900.

J. STIENEN.

COUCH BED (Application filed Feb. 8, 1900A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No' Model.)

Egg-i Aa q W/ TNE SSE S UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS STIENEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COUCH-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,124, dated June 5,1900. Application filed February 3, 1900. Serial No. 3.843. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIUS STIENEN, acitizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, and State of NewYork, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Couch-Beds,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved couchbed which can be readilychanged from a couch to a bed and, vice versa, from a'bed to a couch. ina very convenient and handy manner, the structure being such that thecouch-bed can be readily handled so as to change it into a bed or couchand so that the clothes, pillows, &c., can be conveniently stored awayin the box portion of the couch when the same is to be used as a bed.

The invention consists of a couch-bed composed of a box portion and aseat portion pivoted by end pivots on the box portion and adapted to beturned on said pivots, said seat portion being upholstered at both sidesand havingprojecting front and rear moldings and hinged andspring-actuated front and rear panels hinged to the front and rear wallsof the box portion, so as to permit the turning of the seat portion onits pivots in a position so as to be used as a seat for the couch or amattress for the bed, as will be fully described hereinafter and finallypointed out in the claims. g

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofmy improved couch-bed shown as a couch. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section of the same, drawn on a larger scale, the middleportion being broken out. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section online 3 3, Fig. 2, showing the couch-bed in position to be used as acouch. Fig. 4is a similar vertical transverse section showing the seatportion in the act of being turned so as to present the upholsteredsection at the upper part. Fig. 5 is a similar vertical transversesection showing the couchbed in position as a bed; and Fig. 6 is an endelevation of the couch-bed, partly broken away.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the main or box portion of myimproved couch-bed, which is provided with suitable feet or casters, ifdesired, and which is finished in any suitable manner, with a fringe orornamental tassels I extending around the lower part of the same, asshown in Fig. 1. The box portion A is provided with recessed front andrear walls,which are filled by hinged panels A A the front panel A beingprovided with a suitable handle a for pulling it forward. On the endwalls of'the box portion A are arranged suitable bearings j for thepivots or trunnions b of the seat port-ion B, which seat portion isupholstered at both sides of its frame M, one side being finished asacushion for the couch, while the opposite side is finished as amattress, as shown in Fig. 2. The frame of the seat portion is providedwith front and rear moldings or cleats m, which rest on the front andrear panels A A when the seat portion is in position so as to forma seatfor the couch or the mattress for the bed, as shown, respectively, inFigs. 3 and 5. The front and rear panels A A are connected by helicalsprings d d, which pass through corresponding holes (1, bored throughthe end walls of the box portion, said springs being of sufficientstrength so as to hold the front and rear panels in closed position onthe box portion until by the turning of the seat portion they arepressed outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to permit the turning ofthe seat portion through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees andpresent thereby either the couch-seat or mattress at its upper side.

Headpieces E E are arranged at each end of the box-body and removablyconnected therewith by means of pins, as shown in dotted lines. Theheadpieces and'the end portion of the front and rear walls are providedwith stationary moldings on m respectively, as shown in Fig. 1, whichform a continuance of the front and rear moldings m of the seat portionandimpart thereby an ornamental and attractive appearance to thecouch-bed. The side walls of the couch portion are extended to a levelwith the seat portion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the seatportion can be freely turned between the same, the seat for the couchbeing on a level with the top of the extensions of the end formed by theheadpieces E E, while the mattress is slightly below the same whenturned, so as to be at the upper part of the seat portion.

My improved couch-bed is used as follows: When it is in its normalposition, the seat portion B rests by its molding on the front and rearpanels A A and is firmly supported by the same. \Vhen it is desired toturn the seat portion so as to bring the mattress up, the front panel ispulled forward against the tension of the springs d by taking hold ofthe handle a of the same. The seat portion is then pressed downward inthe direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4, so that thereby the seatportion engages the front and rear panels A A and moves them against thetension of the springs d in outward direction, so as to permit thecomplete turning of the seat portion until the same has passed throughan angle of one hundred and eighty degrees and presents the mattressportion at its upper part, as shown in Fig. 5. When the seat portionarrives in horizontal position, the front and rear panels are drawn inbelow the front and rear molding m of the seat portion B, as shown inFig. 5, so that they again support the seat portion firmly in position.The couch-bed can now be used as a bed, the pillows, sheets, covers,&c., having first been removed from the lower part of the box portion A,in which they were stored, this removal being accomplished by moving thefront panel forward and tilting slightly the seat portion and removingthese articles through the space that is formed between the front paneland front wall of the box portion and the seat portion. \Vhen it isdesired to turn the seat portion to form a couch again, the sameoperation is repeatednamely, the front panel is moved forward by takinghold of the handle a, so that the seat portion can be readily moved indownward position, so thatit presses back the front and rear panels andpermits the completion of the turning motion until the couch-seatarrives at the top and the front and rear walls are forced by theirsprings below the front and rear moldings of the seat portion, as shownin Fig. 5. Before this return motion of the seat portion is accomplishedthe sheets and coverings are removed and stored away in the lower partor box portion A.

My improved couch-bed has the advantage that it can be used as a couchor bed in a very convenient manner, and that it can be manu' factured atcomparatively small. expense from an ordinary couch, and that thebedclothes can be conveniently stored away in the box portion of thecouch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a box portion, front and rear panels hinged to thefront and rear walls of the box portion, means for holding the front andrear panels in normally-raised position, and a centrally-pivoted seatportionprovided with a cushioned Seat at one side and a mattress at theopposite side, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a box portion having recessed front and rear wallsand upwardlyextending side walls, front and rear panels hinged to thefront and rear walls, means for holding the front and rear panels innormallyraised position, a handle applied to the front panel, and acentrally-pivoted seat portion cushioned at both sides and provided withfront and rear moldings by which the seat portion is supported on thefront and rear panels whether the same is placed in position as a couchor as mattress for a bed, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a box portion pro vided with recessed front andrear walls, and extensions from the end walls, front and rear panelshinged to the front and rear walls, helical springs connecting the frontand rear panels, said helical springs being arranged in holes of the endwalls of the box portion, a centrally-pivoted seat portion provided witha cushion-seat at one side and a mattress at the opposite side, saidseat being provided with projecting front and rear moldings andsupported by the front and rear panels in horizontal position, and ahandle attached to the front panel so as to permit the forward movementof the same and convenient turning of the seat portion, substantially asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS STIENEN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, M. II. \VUR'rznL.

